Balkan Mathematical Olympiad (BMO)

The **Balkan Mathematical Olympiad (BMO)** is an annual regional mathematics competition for high school students from countries in the Balkan region, with additional invited guest countries. Established in 1984, the BMO features a 4.5‑hour written exam with challenging, proof‑based problems in areas such as algebra, geometry, number theory, and combinatorics, similar in style to the International Mathematical Olympiad. Participation is **not individual sign‑up**: students are selected and sent by their own country’s national math olympiad organization or mathematical society, typically based on performance in national Olympiads or selection tests. A standard team consists of up to six students, usually in upper secondary school (roughly grades 9–12). The BMO offers a rigorous international contest experience, exposure to high‑level problem solving, and preparation for other major Olympiads, making it a key stepping stone for aspiring competition mathematicians in the region.